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Buffalo Mountain Trail

Difficult Difficult
 4.4 (27)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Central Rockies
  4. Silverthorne & Dillon
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“Thick forested trail to get you either to the Summit of Buffalo ”

Matthew Coye
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3.2

Miles

5.1

KM

Point to Point

12,725' 3,879 m

High

9,769' 2,978 m

Low

2,956' 901 m

Up

61' 19 m

Down

18%

Avg Grade (10°)

47%

Max Grade (25°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Views · Wildlife

Description

The trail stays inside the dense trees until you climb closer to treeline. Once above 11,800 you enter the scree field. This will take some maneuvering over many loose rocks, keep your eyes peeled for the cairns leading you to the summit.

Once at the top, take in a great view of the Dillon Reservoir and Summit County! There's some fun scrambling on the summit that will take you to the further point, which is not actually the true summit. You already hit the true summit at 12,777!

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - White River National Forest Office

Shared By:

Matthew Coye with improvements by Kelley Dearing and 2 others
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 27 votes

#1

in Silverthorne & Dillon

#197

Overall
  4.4 from 27 votes
5 Star
59%
4 Star
26%
3 Star
11%
2 Star
4%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#1

in Silverthorne & Dillon

#47

in Colorado

#197

Overall
15 Views Last Month
10,267 Since Mar 18, 2015
Difficult Difficult
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4%
13%
83%
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Photos

Lots of mountain goats.
Nov 3, 2016 near Silvert…, CO
Taking a short break in the midst of the huge boulder field. Dillon Reservoir glitters in the distance.
Nov 3, 2016 near Silvert…, CO
The cradle of Frisco, Silverthorne, and Lake Dillon Reservoir. Well worth the climb.
Nov 3, 2016 near Silvert…, CO
After the boulder field, there's a few more false summits have you to ascend before getting to the top.
Nov 3, 2016 near Silvert…, CO
Approaching the true summit of Buffalo Mountain.
Nov 3, 2016 near Silvert…, CO
Top of Buffalo looking northwest towards the Red Peaks.
Nov 3, 2016 near Silvert…, CO

7 Comments

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 61 days ago
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Check-Ins

Jul 5, 2026
Circe
Oct 6, 2024
Kid Salami
I will echo what a previous person wrote… This was the hardest short hike I 5.8mi — 5h 00m
Nov 5, 2023
Jessey Hershberger-Kirk
Lost the trail multiple times, so much postholing and rock hopping. Need to do this route in the summer! 6.2mi — 6h 10m
Jul 26, 2023
Miles Luning
Hardest 5-mile hike I've ever done. Loved the vert and Boulder field was a lot of fun. Saw 5 goats as well. Can't recommend enough! 5.5mi — 4h 58m
Sep 17, 2022
Caroline Bohm
Jun 28, 2022
Tom McHugh
Steep — 5h 30m
Sep 27, 2021
Troy Hartwig
6.8mi — 6h 09m
Oct 21, 2020
Justin Ryder
5.2mi — 2h 58m

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